Queen of the Ring

Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of An American Legend

Baker & TaylorDescribes the life and career of Mildred Burke, the longest reigning champion of female wrestling, from her entrance into the industry and her marriage to her promoter to her rise to international stardom.

Perseus Publishing

At only five foot two, Mildred Burke was an unlikely candidate for the ring. A waitress barely scraping by on Depression-era tips, she wanted more, and she saw her chance when she witnessed her first wrestling match. Even against all odds, she knew that she could become a female wrestler. What followed was a gritty, glittering testament to the golden age of wrestling, when beauty and brawn captivated the world.

Blackwell North AmerThe Queen of the Ring is the little-known story of Mildred Burke, the longest reigning champion of female wrestling, In his researched account, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jeff Leen pulls back the curtain on a forgotten era of American history - a time when a petite Midwesterner used her beauty and brawn to captivate audiences across the globe and dominate America's most masculine sport.